The Recent and Long Dead

November is sweet, sunshine through bare trees, dry brown and

      fungus-free leaves companionably visiting among the dead

as I did yesterday our town's small graveyard military dads who recently

      died lie under polished stones embossed with actual photos of

      themselves and their wives flowers and plastic totems within a

      miniature picket fence overflowing with the emotions love and

      grieving of the living

beside or not far from simple wafer-thin old moss-covered stones on

      which I could not read the names.

Such peace I realized which may be found around any rock or tree has

      escaped me while I pursue my particular happiness and our particular war,

and such a blessing awaits me, too.